A New Horizon: Charles-Guillaume Schmitt and Elena Salikhova Step into the WDSF Professional Division
Following an extraordinary amateur career that culminated in world dominance, the French icons sit down with WDSF to share the deep reflection behind their historic transition, the secrets to their 20-year bond, and what to expect from their upcoming Professional debut in Asia this July.
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) prepares to witness the beginning of an exciting new chapter as one of the most celebrated Latin couples of the modern era, Charles-Guillaume Schmitt and Elena Salikhova, representing France, officially announce their transition to Professional DanceSport.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a historic amateur run. Representing France with unparalleled charisma and technical brilliance, the duo reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport in 2025. Their unforgettable year included conquering the WDSF World Championship Latin Adult in Brno, securing historical victories at all the 2025 WDSF GrandSlams Series, taking gold in Blackpool, Wuxi, Stuttgart, Rome and Shanghai, and earning a prestigious silver medal at 2025 The World Games in Chengdu.
Most recently, in May 2026, the couple chose their hometown of Colmar to bid a deeply personal farewell to the Amateur ranks at the French National Championship. Describing their next step as "both a challenge and a dream," Charles and Elena are already hard at work preparing for their highly anticipated Professional debut, scheduled to take place this July in Nanjing, People´s Republic of China . Following their official announcement, the WDSF team caught up with the reigning Champions to look back at their roots, the foundation of their unbreakable partnership, and the vision driving them into the Professional arena.
From Two Decades of Roots to an Unbreakable Bond
Reflecting on their origins and how they both first discovered DanceSport, the journey looks vastly different for each of them. Looking back at the young dancers who teamed up two decades ago, the legacy they have achieved together stems from two distinct childhood paths.
Elena recalls that starting in Russia was almost an obvious choice: “For my part, I was born in Russia and started dancing in the city of Perm. For me, it was almost an obvious choice, because DanceSport is very popular in Russia and there are many Latin and Standard dance schools. I was also a very active child, so my parents felt that dancing would be a great activity for me, and perhaps a way to calm my wild soul.”
For Charles, the spark came from a different source, driven by family intuition. “I started dancing because of my mother," he shares. "She actually signed me up for classes even though I wasn’t the one asking for it, but she could see that I was constantly dancing around the house. From the very first lesson, I absolutely loved it and felt an immediate connection to dancing.”
Despite their different beginnings, their paths united into a legendary partnership. "When you begin a journey, you never really know where it will lead," they reflect together. "Life can be wonderful, but it can also be challenging at times. Looking back, we are very happy and proud of everything we have achieved throughout our dancing career together, and we are excited to discover what the next chapter of this journey will bring. The future remains unknown, and that is part of what makes this adventure so exciting!”
The future remains unknown, and that is part of what makes this adventure so exciting!
Having been dancing together since their Junior days in a sport where partnerships change so frequently, maintaining such an unbreakable bond and shared vision all the way to the World title comes down to a few key pillars, starting with their personal compatibility. “I think there are several reasons why our partnership has lasted for so many years," they explain. "First of all, we have always gotten along well. From the very beginning, our personalities complemented each other and created a good balance, which is very important in a long-term partnership.”
From the very beginning, our personalities complemented each other and created a good balance, which is very important in a long-term partnership.
However, they emphasize that greatness is never achieved alone, crediting their technical and emotional support systems. “Another key factor has been our coaches, Franck and Joanne. We have been fortunate to have a team of coaches who have supported and guided us throughout all these years, especially during moments of doubt or difficult periods."
Alongside their professional team, family has been their ultimate anchor. "And of course, our parents deserve a huge amount of credit. Their unconditional support has always been there for us. More generally, having the encouragement of your family makes a tremendous difference. When the people closest to you believe in you and support your dreams, it gives you the strength to keep moving forward, no matter the challenges.”
Conquering Historic Floors and Closing the Amateur Chapter
That strength was on full display in 2025 when they took the gold at the WDSF GrandSlam Latin inside the historic Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Conquering that legendary floor brought out profound emotions for the couple, who felt the weight of history beneath their shoes. “The Winter Gardens in Blackpool is such a historic and iconic venue, filled with decades of DanceSport history," they recall. "We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to dance on that legendary floor, where so many great champions and legends of our sport have competed. Just being there is already a privilege.”
"We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to dance on the legendary floor of the Winter Gardens during WDSF DanceSport Festival, where so many great champions and legends of our sport have competed. Just being there is already a privilege.”
Standing on top of the podium in such a venue remains an unforgettable milestone. “Winning the gold medal made the experience even more special. It was the icing on the cake. It was a moment of great pride and gratitude, and one that we will always cherish as part of our journey.”
After reaching the absolute pinnacle of amateur DanceSport, the decision to take the leap to the Professional Division in mid-2026 was guided by a specific driving force and a desire for a meaningful, close-to-home farewell. “We had actually been thinking about moving to Professionals since the end of last year, but we wanted to compete in one more French Championship," they reveal. "It took place last month, in May, in our hometown of Colmar, which made it very special for us. Having our families and coaches there to support us and being able to finish our amateur career at home felt like the perfect ending to that chapter.”
For Charles and Elena, this transition is also an evolution of their artistic purpose, moving beyond the pursuit of trophies. “For us, DanceSport has never been only about results or titles. Of course, winning championships is a wonderful achievement, but our deeper motivation has always been to share a message, express our style, and communicate our vision of dance through our performances.”
Our deeper motivation has always been to share a message, express our style, and communicate our vision of dance through our performances.
After a lifetime in the same division, the time for a new creative landscape had finally arrived. “We have been competing in the Adult Latin category since 2008, which is a very long chapter of our lives," they reflect. "After so many years, we felt the need for a new challenge, a fresh source of inspiration, and a new direction for our growth as artists and athletes. Moving to the Professional Division felt like the natural next step in our journey.”
Moving to the Professional Division felt like the natural next step in our journey
The Professional Horizon: Evolving the Dream
Their announcement has created immense excitement worldwide, a reaction that has deeply moved the couple. “We are truly touched that this new chapter in our journey has resonated with so many people around the world. Seeing the excitement and support from the DanceSport community means a lot to us.”
As they enter Professional DanceSport, they are driven by a desire to explore uncharted artistic territory rather than just sticking to what they know. “As for our goals, we are excited to discover new limits, challenge ourselves in different ways, and continue growing both as dancers and as artists. The Professional Division opens a new chapter filled with opportunities to experiment, evolve, explore new possibilities in our dancing, and as well create new shows that allow us to express our creativity in different ways.”
We are excited to discover new limits, challenge ourselves in different ways, and continue growing both as dancers and as artists.
Ultimately, their greatest objective is to embrace the joy of the sport together. “More than anything, we want to enjoy this journey together. After so many years of competing, it is exciting to experience something new, embrace fresh challenges, and create new memories along the way.”
As one of the most enduring and successful partnerships in the history of DanceSport, fans are eager to see how their dynamic on the dance floor might evolve now that they are stepping onto the Professional stage. Their focus remains on authenticity and legacy: “We want to continue growing as dancers and as a partnership, while staying true to who we are. Our goal is to leave our own mark on the Professional Division and show our unique identity as a couple on the dance floor. We hope to bring our experience, our connection, and our style to this new chapter, and continue inspiring people through our dancing.”
With their Professional debut set for this July in Nanjing, their intense preparation is already well underway, balancing their proven training methods with fresh artistic elements. “Our preparation is very similar to what it was during our amateur career," they conclude. "We continue to work hard every day and focus on improving every aspect of our dancing. At the same time, we are exploring some new ideas and directions for this next chapter of our journey. We’re excited to share them with the audience and hope that people will enjoy what they see when we step onto the floor in July.”
As Charles and Elena embark on this exciting new chapter, WDSF President Mr. Shawn Tay reflected on the profound impact the couple has made within the community and expressed his excitement for their future:
Charles and Elena have been exceptional ambassadors for DanceSport, inspiring countless dancers worldwide through their dedication, style, and historic achievements. Their transition to Professionals is a natural and exciting progression of their artistic journey. On behalf of the entire WDSF family, I want to thank them for their incredible legacy so far and wish them the absolute best as they prepare to take this new stage. We look forward to watching them continue to elevate our sport.
Photos courtesy of Charles-Guillaume Schmitt & Elena Salikhova.
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